John Reese specialises in everything to do with tourism in France – villas, apartments, tours and canal boating holidays

Where is the Cannes Film Festival?!

“So where’s the Cannes Film Festival being held this year?” – Christina Aguleira (2010)

My dear daughter Sarah shares this subject that she loves with us:

It’s been nearly a year that I’ve been living in France studying film but I guess I’ve been so swept up on a wave of screenwriting and filmmaking that I actually FORGOT the Cannes Film Festival this week. Slap on the hand. It’s happening right on our doorstep and instead I’ll be in London talking to British cinematographers (who are obviously not nominated this year!) I’m trying to decide where I’d rather be?

Despite the fact it slipped my mind this year, the Cannes film festival is a true celebration of film-making around the world. It edges away from the mainstream cinema and celebrates films made by anyone from blockbuster masters to arthouse geniuses to everyday Fellow kiwis from down the road. It’s glamour, it’s champagne, it’s sunshine, it’s celebrating the love we have for the images in our lives.

Unfortunately (in my opinion) the festival opens with Ridley Scott’s multimillion blockbuster Robin Hood starring fellow Australians Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. During the last couple of weeks, the Paris metro stations are plastered with posters of a sweaty, muscley Russell posing dramatically with a bow and arrow. Advertising at its most efficient.

As for the films in competition…I look forward to hearing how Alejandro González Iñárritu’s (Babel, 21grams) new film Biutiful is received. Also keep your eyes open for Another Year directed by Mike Leigh (Vera Drake). Like the Oscars and Golden Globes however, anything can happen….